CARDIFF CITY chief Sam Hammam was last night urged to "Go for John Toshack" as a summer statement of intent to send the Bluebirds soaring back towards the top.

The message comes from ex-Bluebirds favourite David Giles after Toshack lost his job in charge of Spanish Primera Liga side Real Sociedad last week.

Toshack, from Cardiff, was immediately installed by Welsh bookmaker Jack Brown as 3-1 favourite to become City's next manager.

Toshack refused point blank to discuss the Cardiff speculation.

But, intriguingly, sources close to the big man indicated he might finally be prepared to come back home for the first time since leaving British football to manage abroad in 1984.

Lennie Lawrence has been put in charge until the end of the season and it has been reported that his eventual fate hinges on whether City go up. Their play-off prospects received a huge boost with yesterday's 7-1 thumping of Oldham.

However, if City don't make it, Giles believes Hammam should make an immediate swoop for Toshack.

"I happen to think Lennie is doing a decent job. It's a pity he wasn't given the manager's job sooner," said Giles.

"But if the club were to go for Tosh, it would make everyone realise just how BIG Cardiff could become under Hammam.

" It would be the biggest signing, player or manager, in Welsh football history."

Giles, who played under Toshack during Swansea City's march from Fourth Division to top of the old First, enthused: "Season tickets would sell out, there would be capacity crowds, Tosh would be as close to a guarantee you could get of taking City up.

"I remember his first game in charge of Swansea. They were getting gates of 1,800 ? for his first match there were 14,500!

"Tosh could have the sort of impact on Cardiff City that Arsene Wenger has had on Arsenal. Tosh, like Wenger, would know the best young players abroad, particularly the Spaniards.

"He would bring them over and let them blossom at Cardiff. Top names would also sign for Cardiff just because Tosh was in charge."

Giles went on: "What's more, let me tell you a story about Tosh from many years ago.

"One day, our Swansea team were going in the coach to Cardiff for a Welsh Cup match. I was sitting at the front of the bus with a player called Brian Atley.

"As we drew up towards Ninian Park, Tosh turned to the pair of us and said: 'One day I will come back to take this club to the top'.

"Tosh could see by the reaction on our faces that it was a strange thing for your manager to say about the opposition - particularly when we are talking about Cardiff and Swansea.

"But Brian and I understood because the three of us are from Cardiff. Tosh and Brian are from the Canton part of the city, I'm from Grangetown.

"Obviously it's not happened yet, but every time Tosh has been available, I have wondered.

"It's a bit of a dream, but maybe, just maybe, this is the time at last.

"Look, what more can he do abroad? The man has managed Real Madrid twice ? a club who are even bigger than Manchester United, in terms of the amount of times they have won the European Cup.

"He could manage Barcelona, or an Italian club, but it's not going to match Real Madrid.

"Maybe something like the challenge of taking his hometown club into the Premiership would appeal more these days."

Ironically, most Bluebirds fans believe Cardiff's demise over the past three decades started that day in 1970 when Toshack was sold to Liverpool in a #110,000 deal.

Giles, these days a respected soccer pundit for RealRadio, knows Tosh will be a wanted man after his Real Sociedad departure, but he believes Cardiff would be the perfect job for the big man.

"Cardiff obviously want a new stadium. Tosh's presence would help fill that on a regular basis," argued Giles.

"Imagine the huge interest in the club, the sponsorship Cardiff could pull in.

"It would be on a level Cardiff have never known.

"The trouble is, because Tosh has been abroad since 1984, some people here don't realise just how big a name he is.

"To put it in perspective, he is probably bigger on the Continent - after what he has achieved in Spain, Portugal and Turkey - than someone like Arsene Wenger.

"It is ironic that because he has always been in such demand abroad, it has stopped him coming back to British football. That said, I know he has had plenty of offers with top clubs."

What about the obvious three drawbacks, though?

The first is that Cardiff already have a manager in Lawrence.

The second is that Toshack has been out of the British game since 1984.

The third is: Could no-nonsense Toshack and Hammam, who loves to be hands-on, possibly work together?

On Lawrence, Giles said: "I just wish he had replaced Alan Cork earlier in the season.

"Nonetheless, it has been reported that much will hinge on whether Cardiff make it into the play-offs.

"And anyway, even someone like Lennie would understand just what John Toshack could bring to Cardiff."

On Tosh being out of the British game, Giles says: "I've heard it said he wouldn't be in tune with what's happening here, but that's nonsense.

"He is in touch with football - British, European, whatever. It's not as if he won't have been watching British matches.

"You either have ability or you don't. Tosh knows what is needed to take a team through to the Premiership - he did it with Swansea.

"If that means being ruthless, so be it. Every time Swansea went up, he got rid of five or six first-teamers, knowing he needed better quality at the next level.

"There is no sentiment. When my time came, he got rid of me and I can have no complaints. His record of success speaks for itself.

"Marry his technical nous from abroad with the best of a British style and you have a potent mixture."

As for Hammam and Toshack not being able to work together, Giles has a simple retort.

"The chairman could simply sit back and bask in the success Tosh would bring!"